Web slitter



H. L. HOUSE Dec. 15, 1964 WEB SLITTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1962 INVENTOR. Wg/y #a4/.sa

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TrnRNEYs H. l... HOUSE wEBsLITTER Dec. l5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 INVENTOR. Wai/y %a.s'e

/ ATTD RN EYS United States Patent fiee 3,161,364 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,161,364 WEB SLITTER Hugh L. House, Rte. 3, Rogersville, Tenn. Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,295 4 Claims. (Cl. 242 56.2)

The present invention relates to a web cutter or slitter such as may be employed for cutting or slitting wire cloth r the like.

y An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for slitting large rolls of wire screen or the like into predetermined widths for particular purposes.

In modern home construction, quantities of wire cloth are employed to cover the eave vents in the sides of a house. Such wire cloth is cut into strips approximately two and one-half inches wide or the like.

Modern housing also calls for roll flashings fabricated of plastic or copper and in such widths as are needed for various parts of a new house.

An object of the present invention is to provide a web slitter or web cutting apparatus which saves time and labor in the cutting of wire screen, roofing paper, copper flashing, plastic coverings, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a web cutting apparatus which is sturdy in construction, one which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and one which has automatic means for shifting the position of the web cutting knife or knives as the take-up roll becomes loaded with the cut material.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:v

FIGURE 1 is a plan view with parts broken away and partially in section, showing the apparatus of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG- URE l and on an enlarged scale,

kFIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on lthe line 4-4 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the working action of the web holding device of the FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a portion j of the knife carrying plate member of the apparatus according to the present invention.

With reference to the drawings in detail, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises a housing 10 including a bottom 12 and side walls 14 and 16 merging from opposed edges of the bottom 12.

A shaft 18 has its ends journaled in the side walls 14 and 16 adjacent one end of the housing 10 and a take-up roll 20 has its ends journaled in the side walls 14 and 16 adjacent the other end of the housing 10. The take-up roll'20 is hollow and is provided on one end thereof y and 6, and the bar 24 is rotated within the roll 20 to I wedge the end portion of the screen 2S, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The slot in the take-up roll 20 is designated by the :l

reference numeral 32 in FIGURE 7.

The side walls 14 and 16 are provided with notches 34 and 36 to receive the shaft 18 and roll 20, respectively.

A roll of screen or other web material, as at 38 in FIGURE 1, is supported upon the shaft 18. A washer 4t) at one end of the roll of material 38 serves as a bearing and keeps the end of the roll of material away from the side wall 16. Another washer 42 on the other end of the roll is held against the roll by a compressed coil spring 44 held in place by a washer 46 and a cotter pin 48 extending through any one of a group of holes 50 provided in the shaft 18.

The present invention provides a cutter assembly 52 extending between the side walls 14 and 16 of the housing 10 intermediate the shaft I in the take-up roll 20. The assembly 52 includes a plate member 54 fabricated of a plurality of inverted elongated U-shaped elements 56. Each element 56 has its ends extending over angle iron members 5S and 61B (FIGURE 8) and each element 56 is spaced from the adjacent elements 56 so as to provide a slot 62 arranged transversely of the plate member 54.

Another angle iron 64 extends over the ends of the elements 56 adjacent the angle irons 60 and covers those ends of the elements 56.

The ends of the angle irons 58 and 60 are mounted in a pair of identical end plates 66 each pivotally connected to the adjacent housing side wall 14 or 16 by a bolt and nut assembly 68.

The bolt and nut assemblies 68 connect the plate member 54 to the sidewalls 14 and 16 for swinging movement of the plate member 54 about the bolts as horizontal axes.

A bar 72 extends transversely of the slots 62 below and spaced from the elements 56. A plurality of arcuately shaped knives 74 are mounted on the bar 72 for sliding movement and for rotary movement about the bar 72 as an axis.

There is shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 each knife 74 projects from a sleeve 76 slidable and rotatable on the bar 72. Each knife 74 can be swung upwardly through any one of the slots 62 in the plate member 54, and also may be slid along the bar 72 before swinging upwardly so as to position it properly with respect to the selected one of the slots 62. As seen in FIGURE 2, member 58 forms a stop for gravitationally retaining knife elements 74 in cutting position.

A hold down bar 78 is disposed between the knives '74 and the shaft 18 and is mounted upon the free ends 0f arms 80 and 82 which have their other ends pivotally connected to the side walls 14 and 16 of the housing 10.

The hold down bar 78 normally rests upon the plate member 54 and a spring 84 at each end having one end connected to the adjacent side wall and having its other end connected to the adjacent arm 80 or 82 biases the hold down bar 78 to the position engaging the upper face 0f the plate member 54.

Spring means is also provided biasing the cutter assembly 52 upwardly for swinging movement about the bolts of the bolt and nut assemblies 68 as axes. This spring means consists in a coil spring 86 having one end resting upon a bracket 8S fastened to the adjacent side wall 14 or 16 and having the other end bearing against the underside of a bracket 13 carried by the adjacent end plate 66 of the assembly S2.

The provision of the springs 86 permits the plate member 54 tol be pushed downwardly by the web traveling over the upper face thereof when the web accumulates on the take-up roll 20, this movement being shown v dotted lines in FIGURE 2.

` In use, a roll 38 of-v materialto be cut is placed upon the shaft 18 andthevwashers 42 and 46 withV the spring .fE 44 therebetween-'are' used to hold .the roll 38 in posi-` tion. The cotter, pin 48- in kone ofthe holes 50 in the Y shaft 18 -serves to position-the washer 46 withthe spring f' 44- under slight compression.

The web 28 is now pulled oif the roll 38 and fed overv the plate member 54 to Ythe take-up roll 20. An end portion is inserted in the slot '32 and the bar 24 is rotated so as to pinch the end portion in the roll 20.

One or more of the knives is rotated so that it ap- 'i proache's the slot 62 between the elements 56. l

First a cut is made by a knife or other implement soy I that the knife 74 can-be brought up through the cutin the material and positioned so that the material passes over the knife at partially its mid-point. The hold down bar 78 is now moved to the position above thematerial and the crank`22 is` turned to draw the material over the plate'member 54 and toV cut it into theseveral pieces as desired. l

While the ypreferred embodiment of the present inven-` p tion has been shown and described other embodiments f are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications shaft being adapted to support thereonia roll .of web to bek slit, and a take-up roll having the /ends thereof journaled in said side Walls adjacent the other end of` side housing, a cutter assembly extending between said side walls intermediate said shaft and said roll, said assembly comprising a plate member provided with a plurality of spaced parallel slots arrangedk so that thei-r one adjacent 'ends face toward said shaft and theirVV other adjacent ends face toward said roll, a bar extending transversely of and spaced below said slots, a plurality of arcuately curved knife elements disposed adjacent said bar,.each of said knife elements having the concave edge thereof provided with a 'cutting edge,. each of said knife elements having one end pivotally and slidablyiconnected to said bar for movement about' and along said b ar between a position projecting through a selective one lof said slots with the cutting edge facing said ,shaft to a position below said platemember and free of said slots,

and support means connecting said plate member to said housing, said knife elements being freelyprotatable and slidable on said bar, and means on said Vplate member forming one end of said slots and forming a lstop for z engaging the convex edge Yof said knife elements when the knife elements project through the slots, said stop beingl located in laterally spaced relation to Vsaid bar rfor gravitationally Vretaining the :knife elements inV cutting position.'

t 2. In a web cutting apparatus including'a housing havf ing spaced sidewalls, a shaft having its ends journaled in said side walls adjacent one end ofvsaid housing, said bar, each of said knife elements having the concave edge thereof provided with'a cuttingf-'edge,- eachV of said knife elements having one end pivotally and slidably connected to said bar -for movement aboutiand along said bar between a position projectingfthrough a selective one of said slots with'Y the cuttingedge facing said shaft to a position below said plate lmember and free of said slots, and support means connecting'said plate member to said side walls for swinging Vmovement/of said platefmem- ,ber aboutia horizontal faxis, said knife elementsv being f freelyirotatableand slidable-on said-ban and'means on said plate member formingljone'end of said slots and forming a stop i'for engaging the convex edge of said Vknife elements when theknife 'elements project'through Ythe slots, said stop being locatedin laterally spaced relation to said bar forV *gravitationally retaining the knife elements in cutting position. Y

3. Ina webcuttingfapparatus includinga housing hav-y ing spacedcside walls, a shaft having its ends journaled in said side walls'adjacent one end of said housing, said shaftbeing ladapted y,to support thereon a roll of web to -be-slit,. and a take-up roll having the ends' thereof journaled in said side walls adjacent the other end of saidhousin'g, av-cutter-assembly' extending between said side walls intermediate saidshaftV and' said roll, said assembly comprising avplate'member provided with a plurality of spaced parallel YVslots arranged so that their one adjacent endsffaceV toward'said vshaft and theirV other adjacent endsV facetoward said roll, a bar. extending Y transversely of' and spaced below said slots, a plurality of arcuately curved knifeelements disposed adjacent said bar, eachl of said knife elements having the concave edge thereof provided witha cutting edge,Y each of said knife elements having one end pivotally and slidably connected to said bar for movement about and along said bar between aposition projecting through a selective one of said slots with the cutting edge facing said `shaft to a position below said plate member and free of said slots, support means connecting said plate member to said side walls for swinging movement `of said plate member about a-horizontal axis, and spring means biasing said plate member for swinging movement in one: direction, said knife elementsibeing freely .rotatable and slidable on said bar, andlmeans on said plate member forming one end of said slots and forming a stop for engaging the]v convex edge` of said knife elements when the knife elements project through the slots', said stop being located in laterally spaced relation to said bar for gravitationally retaining vthe knife elements in cutting position.

4. Ina web Ycuttingapparatus including a housing having spaced side walls, a kshaft having its ends journaled in said side Awalls adjacent one end of said housing, said shaft being adapted to support thereon a roll of web to be slit, and a take-up roll having the ends thereof journaled in said side walls adjacent the other end of said housing, a'cutter .assembly extendingv'between said side walls "intermediate said shaft 'and said roll,`v said assembly comprising .faplate'membe'r provided' with a plurality of spacedV parallel `slots arranged so that their one adjacent ends face toward -said shaft and their other adjacent ends face toward said roll, a bar extending transversely of and spaced below said slots, a plurality of arcuately curved knife elements disposed adjacent said said housing,` a cutter assembly extending between vsaid j.

Vside walls intermediateV said shaft and said roll, said(V assembly comprisingn a plate member provided with ay plurality of spaced rparallel slots arranged so that their one adjacent ends face toward said shaft and their other adjacent ends facevtroward said yroll, a bar extending transversely of andtspaced below said slots, 1.a plurality of'arcuately curved knife elements` disposed adjacent saidY bar, each of said knife elements having lthe concave edge thereof provided with a cutting edge, each of said knife elements having one end pivotally and slidably connected to said bar for movement about andalong said bar between a position projecting'th'rough a selectiveon'e of said slotsrv withthe ,cutting edge facing said shaft to a position below Asaid plate member and free of said slots, support means connecting said plate member to said side wallsfor swingingmoveme'ntof said plate kmemberabout v a horizontal-axis, ahold down bar VVdisposed 'so as to rest upon said plate member, and spring :means operatively connected to said hold down bar biasing the latter into engagement With said plate member, said knife elements being freely rotatable and slidable on said bar, and means on said plate member forming one end of said slots and forming a stop for engaging the convex edge of said knife elements when the knife elements project through the slots, said stop being located in laterally spaced relation to said bar for gravitationally retaining the knife elements in cutting position.

Bennet et al. Aug. 4, 1868 Berstler Dec. 30, 1879 6 Seville Feb. 10, 1903 Johnstone Feb. 111, 1908 Pulsifer Aug. 4, 1909 Gammeter Mar. 10, 1914 Olsen Nov. 1, 1927 Forse May 6, 1930 Valentine June 4, 1935 Tucker Nov. 14, 1939 Walter Dec. 3, 1940 Houston Mar. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 9, 1900 

1. IN A WEB CUTTING APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING SPACED SIDE WALLS, A SHAFT HAVING ITS END JOURNALED IN SAID SIDE WALLS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, SAID SHAFT BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THEREON A ROLL OF WEB TO BE SLIT, AND A TAKE-UP ROLL HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF JOURNALED IN SAID SIDE WALLS ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SIDE HOUSING, A CUTTER ASSEMBLY EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS INTERMEDIATE SAID SHAFT AND SAID ROLL, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS ARRANGED SO THAT THEIR ONE ADJACENT ENDS FACE TOWARD SAID SHAFT AND THEIR OTHER ADJACENT ENDS FACE TOWARD SAID ROLL, A BAR EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND SPACED BELOW SAID SLOTS, A PLURALITY OF ARCUATELY CURVED KNIFE ELEMENTS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID BAR, EACH OF SAID KNIFE ELEMENTS HAVING THE CONCAVE EDGE THEREOF PROVIDED WITH A CUTTING EDGE, EACH OF SAID KNIFE ELEMENTS HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BAR FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AND ALONG SAID BAR BETWEEN A POSITION PROJECTING THROUGH A SELECTIVE ONE OF 